title: Diabetes risk, low fitness, and energy insufficiency levels among children from poor families.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Low-income populations have higher rates of type 2 diabetes and it is the hope of the investigators to increase support for the dissemination of evidence-based prevention programs aimed at children from poor families.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of high blood glucose, obesity, low fitness, and energy insufficiency levels among children from poor families.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cross-sectional study conducted in fall 2001 used fasting capillary glucose, body mass index, body fat, step test, and three 24-hour dietary recalls to assess diabetes risk factor levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 1,402 fourth-grade students aged 8 to 10 years. The racial/ethnic backgrounds were 80% Mexican American, 10% African American, 5% Asian American, and 5% non-Hispanic white.
  
  
  METHODS
  All data were analyzed for descriptive statistics and frequencies of distribution. Means were computed by sex for all diabetes risk factors and t test conducted to determine differences between sexes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly 75% of participants lived in households with <USD 20,400 annual income. Although 44% of students were energy insufficient, 33% were obese, and 7% had high blood glucose levels. Most of these students had marginal to unacceptable fitness levels and consumed high energy-dense and low nutrient-dense foods.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children living in poverty have high levels of diabetes risk factors and need early detection and intervention programs. Prudent advice might be to increase physical activity and intake of nutrient-dense foods rather than to restrict energy intake.
authors.affiliation: Social and Health Research Center, 1302 S St Mary's St, San Antonio, TX 78210, USA. rtrevino@sahrc.org
authors.forename: Roberto P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Treviño
authors.forename: Donovan L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Fogt
authors.forename: Tammy Jordan
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Wyatt
authors.forename: Liset
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leal-Vasquez
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sosa
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Woods
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D001213:Asian; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D017058:Mexican Americans; D009753:Nutritive Value; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D011203:Poverty; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D004041:Dietary Fats; D007328:Insulin